Screw-driver.



H. G. INGRAM.

SCREW DRIVER.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 28, 1911.

Patented Oct. 1. 1912.

Guam m UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE. nonscn e. ntenhm, or .romA'rm-rnnnsrnvama, n'ssienort or ONE-HALF r0 1 SAMUEL GOLDBERG, or ALTQONA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SCREW-DRIVER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented o h. 1, 1912.

Application filed September 28, 1911. Serial No. 651,804.

To all whom it may concern:.

Be it known that I, HORACE G. Install, a citizen of the United States, residin at Juniata, in the county of Blair and tate of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Screw-Drivers, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a screw driver with an attachment for holding the screw while it is being started in the wood or metal.

A further object of my invention is to accomplish this end by means of a device which can be operated with one hand and while in positions where it is difficult to reach the right spot.

With this and other objects in view my invention consists of a combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the screw driver complete. Fig. 2 is a section through the center of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar section at a right angle to Fig.2 showing one of i the gripping jaws in open position to grasp the screw. Fig. 4: is a section on line 4i 4 Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a section on line 5 5 Fig. 2. Fig. 6 shows the lower end of the screw driver. Fig. 7 is a side view of the lower. end of the blade. Fig. 8 is a side View of one of the gripping jaws.

Similar letters and figures refer to similar parts throughout the drawing.

My invention consists of a blade which is fastened in a handle 6 similar to the ordinary screw driver. Alongside of the blade of the screw driver 1 and on opposite sides thereof are two spring jaws 2 2, substantially of the shape shown, extending through the handle and projecting a short distance beyond at its rear end. These spring jaws are intended-to automatically spread when the tube 3 which surrounds them', is moved backward toward the handle by means of a project-ion i which compresses a spring 5. When the projection 4 is released the spring 5 forces the sleeve 3 forward and closes the jaws either upon the screw or upon the lower portion of the blade, as shown at 11'. The jaws 2 2 have a slightly curved depression 14: which centers the screw and helps hold it securely in place. At'the rear end of the stems which are fastened to the jaws.

2 2 and which pass entirely through the handle, is secured a knob 7. A coil spring 8 surrounds this rear end and acts so as to hold the jaws in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This spring 8 is slightly weaker than the spring 5 so that the spring 5 will overcome the action of spring 8. Dep'ressions 9 and 10 may be formed in the rear and front ends of the handle for seating the springs 8" and 5 respectively. The sleeve 3 is held in place by means of a slot 11 and pin 12, which allows free movement longitudinally but prevents rotation of the sleeve. As statedbefore, the rear end of the blade is fastened rigidly in the handle but on either side there is sufficientspace allowed so that the jaws may move freely in a longitudinal direction. This blade may either be flat or round, in which latter case the jaws are made to conform with the rounded blade. '1 i From this description it will be seen that the operation of the device is as follows When a screw is to bestarted the handle is grasped with the fingers and the knob 7 rests in the palmof the hand. The portion 4 is then grasped by the fore-finger and thumb and drawn backward. The jaws 2 2 automatically spring outward leaving the notches 11' 11', and by further pressure upon the knob 7 the jaws are pushed forward through the tube until they are in the position shown in Fig. 3. If the projection 4: is then released and pressure is exerted on the handle, the blade of the screw driver will engage the slot in" the head of the screw and it can be turned into position without any difiiculty. When the screw is started the jaws can be returned to their original position by merely pulling back the sleeve 3 and the jaws will spring out automatically disengaging themselves from the screw head and-they can readily be returned to the position shown in Fig. 1, as the spring 8 has been compressed and will materially assist if not e'ntirelyret-urn them to their proper position. i

From this it will be seen that the device can readily be handled with one hand and can be used in places where the operator must use his other hand to hold on.

I do not desire to limit myself to the absolute details of construction as shown, but merely to the structure in its broad sense of operation.

Wllat I claim is- 1. In a screw driver the combination of a handle, a blade fastened rigidly in said handle, an opening completely through the handle, spring jaws passing through said opening, a movable sleeve surrounding said jaws and blade, and means for holding the jaws and blade in the relation desired by the operator.

2. In a screw driver the combination of a handle, a blade fastened rigidly in the handle, notches near the lower end of said blade, an opening completely through the handle, spring jaws passing through said opening, a movable sleeve surrounding said jaws and blade, coiled springs at the upper and lower ends of said handle and surrounding said jaws so that the jaws will operate to hold the screw to be inserted or engage the notches in the blade.

HORACE G: INGRAM. Witnesses:

En J. BUTLER, Q ALEX. WEIR. A 

